What is the main idea of a passage?

• A. The central point the author is making about the topic
• B. The author's summary
• C. The last sentence
• D. The supporting details

Answer: (A)

The main idea is the central point the author is making about the topic. It’s the overall message or claim that the passage communicates after considering all the details and examples. It explains what the author wants you to take away, not just a single fact or a restatement of the whole thing.

Think of it this way: the main idea ties together the supporting details and evidence to show the author’s purpose. The last sentence might hint at it, but isn’t guaranteed to be the main idea on its own. A summary would restate the whole passage in brief, while the supporting details are the specific facts and examples that develop that central point.

So, the best answer is the central point the author is making about the topic, because that captures the overall message the passage is designed to convey.